By Admin. Updated 1:48 p.m., Thursday, March 6, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) Oswald Robinson said he strongly condemns the treatment of teacher Shermaine Joseph- Barnwell by members of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.
Joseph-Barnwell videotaped herself being arrested after being accused of disturbing the peace at the Service Commissions Department (renamed Personnel Department) where she went to present triplicates of her letters of resignation on Monday, March 3.
Robinson noted that based on the video footage, Joseph- Barnwell was treated in a very inhumane and degrading manner.
He said: “This sort of punishment is totally unacceptable. I hope the Commissioner of Police will do a proper investigation to ensure that these officers are brought to justice.”
Robinson added that: “The SVGTU is very much concerned about the matter, and its national executive will deliberate further to decide how they will proceed with the matter.”
The President of the SVGTU described the act by the police as a “clear violation, abuse and gender-based violence”, and he noted that it is something that must not be tolerated.
He reiterated that the police overstepped their boundaries and used excessive force on a teacher who is a mother, a wife, and a sister. Robinson said the police should not be treating human beings in this manner.
“We take note of the footage, and I am sure that we would be advocating for social justice for one of our members”, said the President of the SVG TU.
Speaking on radio this week, Joseph- Barnwell revealed that she was taken to the Central Police Station in an area where she claims she was not able to use the bathroom and had to urinate in a water bottle.
In a Facebook post on March 5, Joseph-Barnwell called on Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the minister with responsibility for national security to investigate the matter.
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